Don Gillis (composer)

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Donald Eugene Gillis (June 17, 1912–January 10, 1978) was a US composer, conductor and teacher. The composition which has gained him most recognition is his orchestral Symphony No. 5½, A Symphony for Fun.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Don Gillis was born in Cameron, Missouri. His family moved to Fort Worth, Texas, and he studied at Texas Christian University, playing trombone and acting as assistant director of the university band. He graduated in 1935, and obtained a masters degree from North Texas State University in 1943.

He became production director for the radio station WBAP, later moving to NBC where he became producer for the NBC Symphony Orchestra during the tenure of its conductor Arturo Toscanini. He held several teaching posts at academic institutions in the southern United States during his career, and also helped to found the Symphony of the Air orchestra.

He died in Columbia, South Carolina.

[edit] Music

Gillis was a prolific composer, writing ten orchestral symphonies, Portrait of a Frontier Town, and six string quartets. However he is remembered primarily as the composer of his Symphony No. 5½, A Symphony for Fun.

[edit] Chronological List of Principal Compositions

  • 1936 String Quartet 1
  • 1937 The Panhandle, symphonic suite for orchestra
  • 1937 The Crucifixion, cantata
  • 1937 The Woolyworm, for orchestra
  • 1937 Thoughts Provoked on Becoming a Prospective Papa, symphonic suite
  • 1937 The Raven, after Edgar Allan Poe, for narrator & orchestra
  • 1938 Suite 1 for Wind Quintet
  • 1939 Suite 2 for Wind Quintet
  • 1939 Suite 3 for Wind Quintet
  • 1939-40 Symphony 1, An American Symphony
  • 1940 Intermission - Ten Minutes, symphonic sketch for orchestra
  • 1940 Portrait of a Frontier Town, for orchestra
  • 1940 Symphony 2, Symphony of Faith
  • 1940-1 Symphony 3, A Symphony for Free Men
  • 1941 The Night Before Christmas, for narrator & orchestra
  • 1942 Three Sketches, for strings
  • 1943 Prairie Poem, tone poem
  • 1943 Symphony 4
  • 1944 The Alamo, tone poem
  • 1944 A Short Overture to an Unwritten Opera, for orchestra
  • 1944-5 Symphony 5, In Memoriam
  • 1945 To An Unknown Soldier, tone poem
  • 1945 This Is Our America, cantata
  • 1945-6 Symphony 5½, A Symphony for Fun
  • 1946 Rhapsody for harp & orchestra
  • 1947 Dude Ranch, tone poem
  • 1947 String Quartet 6
  • 1947 Symphony 6, The Pioneers
  • 1948 Symphony 7, Saga of the Prairie School
  • 1949 Shindig, ballet in 7 Episodes for orchestra
  • 1950 Symphony 8, A Dance Symphony
  • 1950 Tulsa, a symphonic portrait in oil, for orchestra
  • 195? Piano Concerto 1, Encore Concerto
  • 1954 The Coming of The King, for chorus
  • 1956 Pep-Rally, opera for band
  • 1957 The Park Avenue Kids, opera
  • 1957 Five Acre Pond, for oboe & orchestra
  • 1958 The Libretto, opera
  • 1958 Men of Music, for band
  • 1959 The Land of Wheat, suite for band
  • 1961-2 The Legend of Star Valley Junction, opera
  • 1964 Ceremony of Allegiance, for narrator & band
  • 1965 Seven Golden Texts, for narrator voices & orchestra
  • 1966 The Gift of the Magi, opera
  • 1966 World Premiere, opera
  • 1966 Piano Concerto 2
  • 1967 Arturo Toscanini, A Portrait of a Century, for narrator & orchestra
  • 1967 Symphony X, Big D
  • 1967-8 The Nazarene, opera
  • 1969 Rhapsody for Trumpet & orchestra
  • 1973 Behold the Man, opera
  • 1976 The Secret History of the Birth of a Nation, for narrator voices & orchestra

[edit] Publications

  • The Unfinished Symphony Conductor. Pemberton Press (1967). A satirical conducting manual.
  • The Art of Media Instruction. Crescendo Book Publications (1973).

[edit] External links

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